Stay Positive (Part 2)

I've got more top ten lists in mind, but in the interest of time I am going to skip right ahead to the grandaddy of all top tens: the best albums of 2008. Please bear in mind that I am well aware that my initial ratings of these records might differ from their final year-end positions. Albums, you know, naturally grow on people as the year moves along. I am no exception. But if you've been following this blog for the past 11 months, none of these will really come as a shocker:

Top 10 Albums of 2008

Honorable Mention: Santogold (Self-titled)

Well, I was wrong about "rarely hearing" "LES Artistes." We couldn't get this song out of our collective minds this summer.

From June 3rd, 2008: "With great opportunity comes great expectation. And considering Santogold's former day job as an A&R rep for Epic, her collaborations with GZA and Lily Allen, and her connections to M.I.A., this Brooklyn-based songstress has a lot of people expecting big things. Does she pull this one off? Well, her first single "L.E.S. Artistes" may very well be the catchiest single you'll rarely hear. Because quite frankly, I don't know to classify it. Her penchant for freely experimenting with dub, new wave, punk, hip-hop, ska, and grime (sometimes all at once) is admirable, but this unfortunately may spread this NYC socialite too thin on her self-titled debut. And despite already having a slew of supporters south of Houston Street, Santogold bites the very hand that feeds on "Artistes" -- serving up a can of whoopass to the Lower East Side too-cool-for-school hipster class."

Honorable Mention: Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs

And for the mother of all miscalls, I give you the fine words I said about Narrow Stairs. Please review and discard:

"There are some highlights on this album, but unfortunately they are few and far between. The upbeat "No Sunlight" shakes things up a little bit despite its repetitiveness. The unquestionable standout track on Narrow Stairs is "Long Division" -- Gibbard's most ambitious attempt to develop as a musician. And don't get me wrong. Musically this album is not bad, but it really doesn't show the progress that many could have otherwise hoped for after disappointing on Plans. There is no doubt that Gibbard is as a talented singer/songwriter as it gets. But in order to make the next great (and I mean GREAT) Death Cab album, he needs to get over his obsession with looking at the past for inspiration."

10) Coldplay - Viva La Vida

From June 5th, 2008: "The thing that I find most admirable about Coldplay is their willingness to not get comfortable in making this album. After what was considered to be a lackluster follow-up to the acclaimed Rush of Blood, the band still managed to sell millions of copies of 2005's X&Y. Rather than settling in with their bankable mediocrity as so many one trick ponies have done, Coldplay took the high road to meticulously create one of the year's surprises. For me, this band is back on the radar, and who knows, if they maintain this consistency on future albums, maybe I'll actually root for them."

9) Blitzen Trapper - Furr

This might be the only album sneaking into the top ten that I have yet to gush over/discuss in length. That's because I've only recently started falling in love with these guys. Blitzen Trapper is yet another band signed to Sub Pop that just happens to be from the Pacific Northwest. Story sound familiar? Unlike comrades Fleet Foxes, these guys have been around for years and have only recently been hitting it big -- Furr happens to be their fourth release. Evoking everything from early Dylan, Neil Young, Tom Petty, The Shins, and Modest Mouse, this band is well-versed in the art of genre-straddling. They're embarking on an early 2009 club tour and will be playing a couple of great shows in the NYC area. I'll be there.

8) Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago

Technically released in 2007, this brilliant record hit wider distribution this year and is thus considered a 2008 release by many critics. Being the lemming I am, I'm following suit. If you are fan of indie rock and still don't know the story behind this album, you have obviously been living under a rock. Just to summarize, Justin Vernon's life hit the shitter (band breakup, girlfriend breakup, and pneumonia) so he retreated to a cabin in the Wisconsin woods and wrote and wrote and wrote. The finished product is For Emma, Forever Ago -- a heartwrenching collection of songs that kicks the ass of any Iron & Wine album that's ever come out. If you suffer from album ADD you only need one song to become hooked -- "Re: Stacks."

7) Sigur Rós - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust

From June 24th, 2008: "Don't be fooled by the intricacy of Sigur Rós' obscenely long new album title, Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust. Compared to the aural complexity of some of the band's prior albums, this one is all about simplicity. Audiophiles who rejoiced the post-rock production knick-nacks scattered throught Ágætis byrjun and ( ) might be a little disappointed with how much the band really pulled back on this effort. However, despite the countless mispronunciation botches this one will invariably suffer, Með suð... will be on the minds of fans and critics alike for quite some time."

"And whether or not you've become accustomed to sudden foray into unexpected normalcy, this can either be considered good or bad. Taking a page from every other critic who has compared Sigur Rós to Radiohead, Með suð... is this band's The Bends -- except they've already made their own Kid A and OK Computer. I guess they do things differently in Iceland, which is perfectly fine in my book."

6) The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound

From August 26th, 2008: "As awfully emo-suggestive as their name is, New Jersey's Gaslight Anthem is a rock band that's as pure at heart as it gets. Forget the label they're signed to, their meticulously coiffed punk hair, their age, and their sleeve tattoos. This band is living proof that, thankfully, you only need to leave it up to the music to do the talking. If their appearance screams Fall Out Boy, then you will pleased to know that their music evokes Bruce Springsteen more so than anything else. And yes, this is a very good thing. Growing up in New Brunswick-- not too many turnpike exits away from The Boss' stomping ground -- it's pretty apparent that these guys have been down Thunder Road, lived not too far away Jungleland, and have witnessed the darkness on the edge of town."

"Although I am well-aware that naysayers will knock this record for being contrived and unauthentic, I'm willing to overlook these inevitable criticisms. While most young pop-punks bands would opt to replicate the now tired verse-chorus-verse formula of cohorts Panic At The Disco, Boys Like Girls, and Plain White Tee's, these guys are digging a little deeper. I may be wrong here, but I'm willing to bet that Springsteen and Tom Petty tunes will outlast the latest Fall Out Boy offerings. Mix in the Gaslight Anthem's penchant for precocious songwriting, and you get a band that's on a whole different level."

5) TV On The Radio - Dear Science

From September 16th, 2008: "If I had any complaints about the last TV On The Radio record, I'd say there was bit of a consistency problem. And yeah, I know I might be alone here. The high points, which obviously outweighed the low, made Return To Cookie Mountain hands down one of the best records of the decade. However, the album wasn't without its faults -- the less-than-stellar spastic moments were nothing to write home about. Well, it appears that Tunde Adebimpe and crew have learned a thing or two in two years that have passed since Mountain's release. Tweaks have been made here for the better which will only accelerate this band's already rising stock. I'm happy to report that you'll be hard pressed to find a flaw on the new record, Dear Science. And as always, you'll be even harder pressed to put your finger on a specific genre here. This new oeuvre spans everything from hip-hop, trip-hop, shoegaze, funk, electronica, punk, and everything in between. If you thought these art rockers were out there before (in a good way), you really ain't seen nothing yet until you've experienced Science. Bottom line, this is the record Bloc Party tried to make if they had this Brooklyn quintet's talent."

4) My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges

From April 30th, 2008: "The thing that is so admirable about Evil Urges is how it manages to perfectly combine the experimentation so prevalent on their last effort, Z, with the avant-garde, yet classic Southern guitar sound most associated with earlier albums It Still Moves and At Dawn. Jim James and gang take us for a ride during the first several tracks, which seem as if they could have easily been remnants from Z based on their respective falsetto vocals, schizophrenic tempos, and genre-straddling guitar riffs. "Highly Suspicious" is just that, and is hands down the band's weirdest track to date, sounding somewhere in between Prince and Gwar. The change is like night and day when we reach "I'm Amazed" -- a classic rock tune that couldn't have been done better by Skynyrd if they tried. This is when things start to sound a little more familiar to longtime MMJ fans. James' voice soars on the gorgeously sincere 1-2 punch that is "Thank You Too"/ "Sec Walkin'". We are then treated to the band's closest encounter to the radio-friendly world with the poppy "Two Halves" -- a apparent nod to early rock influences along the likes of Buddy Holly and The Everly Brothers."

3) Sun Kil Moon - April

From August 15th, 2008: "The current band from Mark Kozelek of Red House Painters fame, this is Sun Kil Moon's second body of completely original material. And much like Ghosts of The Great Highway, this one is a masterpiece. Admittedly, though, this is an acquired taste. Fans of upbeat, fast-tempo indie-rock need not apply. This one's a downer -- inspired by failed relationships, the passing of loved ones, and imagery of American landscapes. Kozelek's brilliant lyrical sense gets a little lost through his hypnotically mumbling singing style, but take my word for it -- this is one of the most talented singer-writers at his best."

2) The Hold Steady - Stay Positive

From May 28th, 2008: "It's hard to have negative feelings for an album as optimistically titled as Stay Positive. Throw in The Hold Steady's track record of releasing some of the more exceptional studio albums of the past few years and this becomes an even more daunting task. Even so, considering the sheer genius that was 2006's Boys And Girls In America, The Hold Steady are surely destined to disappoint on their follow-up, right? I can safely answer this with a resounding WRONG! It's almost fitting that I happened to get my hands on Stay Positive the day after Memorial Day. Because more so than anything else, this is absolutely a summer record."

"All I have to say is there is a reason why The Hold Steady was the the first band in 15 years to grace the cover of The Village Voice. This bands brings an excitement to music that is unparalleled (just check them out live). And although the guys kind of reinvent the wheel on Positive (lyrically, this disc is very similar to B&IA), they prove that they can consistently make a musically complex record all the while incorporating themes that don't seem to get tired. Hey, if the Boss can make a career out of this, why can't these guys? For me, this is a stellar effort and shows progression of a band that you can bank on."

1) Fleet Foxes (Self-titled)

Here you have it folks. The Fleet Foxes were able to dethrone mighty favorite The Hold Steady. I think the tipping point for me was, of course, the live show. I cannot wait to hear what these guys have in store for a follow-up. This is arguably the best debut album of the decade. Pretty huge accomplishment for a group of shaggy early twenty somethings.

From August 21st, 2008: "Seattle's Fleet Foxes are perhaps the most exciting new band of the year (yes, more so than Vampire Weekend). And sure, it might be a little bold to throw these guys in the top 20, but I have this much faith that we are going to be hearing great things from this band for years to come. If you take a listen to their self-titled debut, you'll discover that this band is mature beyond their years. They've definitely done all their homework in Neil Young 101, and have already learned to perfect a country/folk sound that rivals even the mighty My Morning Jacket. Combine this with the songwriting sincerity of Mark Kozelek, and you get a band that's pretty difficult to criticize."

Bon-afide

If anyone needs any ideas for a early birthday present for this guy, break out the credit cards Saturday at noon. This is when Bon Iver tickets go on sale for his December 11th show at Town Hall (and my 26th b-day). Justin Vernon and crew are wrapping up some shows domestically with Wilco before embarking on a European fall tour. If you haven't already given For Emma, Forever Ago a listen, you're missing out. This is my top 5 for this year (so far).

The List (Part 3)

For 100-91 (Part 1), click HERE.
For 90-81 (Part 2), click HERE.

80) Against Me! - New Wave (2007)
This Florida-based punk rock/folk band has been on the circuit for over a decade, but only recently turned some heads with their fourth release. Signing over to major label Sire, Against Me! recruited Butch Vig to produce a daring album chock full of political undertones. Just listen to the refrain on “From Her Lips to God’s Ears" -- “Condoleezza? What are we gonna do now?” New Wave is also the band's first release to not feature their trademark acoustic touch. Not since The Clash has a band made a punk record that seemed to matter so much. Ben Lee actually does a pretty good cover of this album, so if you're a fan, you need to check it out.


79) Radiohead - Hail To The Thief (2003)
Before Radiohead gave away albums for free, they relied on traditional brick and mortar sales. Well, maybe not this century. 2003's Hail To The Thief was one of the first major releases to suffer tremendously from premature digital leakage. As a result, everyone and their mother had a complimentary copy in their hands months before it hit stores. Fans of the band's earlier material were pleasantly surprised with Thief's sound, as it marked Radiohead's return to guitar-bass-drum realm. Although not nearly as experimentally computerized as Kid A or Amnesiac, the album retained the band's edge as evidenced on the brilliant single "There, There" and album highlights "Sail To The Moon" and "Go To Sleep". They get bonus points for some pretty great album artwork.


78) Beastie Boys - To The 5 Boroughs (2004)
The Beasties' first new release in over six years, the boys got back to the basics in 2004 with their old-school hip-hop homage to the city that bred them. Although Mike D, AdRock, and MCA had been in the game together for over 20 years, this album proved that these guys only got better with age. With samples that included everything from the Sugar Hill Gang to The Dead Boys, this record appealed to MC's, DJ's, and b-boys alike. Although the Beastie Boys have been caught-up experimenting in some crossover endeavors as of late, To The 5 Boroughs is evidence that hip-hop is this trio's lifeblood.


77) Rodrigo Y Gabriela - Rodrigo Y Gabriela (2006)
I appreciate talent when I hear it, and this Mexican duo simply oozes it. If you really want to broaden you musical horizons with some beautiful classical guitar, I highly recommend checking out the self-titled debut by these former Dublin buskers. Rodrigo y Gabriela were literally discovered on the street by Damien Rice, who took them under their wing after he got a whiff of their talent. It truly is unbelievable how harmoniously in-sync these two are when they get up on stage. For those too shy to give these guys a shot, they do unreal covers of "Stairway To Heaven" and Metallica's "Orion".


76) Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago (2008)
Arguably this year's most critically-acclaimed album, this is the first release from indie-folk singer-songwriter Justin Vernon under his new pseudonym. Written while sequestered in a Wisconsin cabin during the winter months, this record constantly criss-crosses the fine line between painstaking sincerity and desperate loneliness. Not since Iron & Wine have we witnessed closure spilled so beautifully into one man's lyrics. Definitely a keeper here.


75) Elliott Smith - New Moon (2007)
Considering this album is a collection of demos and b-sides Smith recorded in the mid-nineties, it's a little questionable as to whether this qualifies as being a release from this decade. However, upon further review, this album is just too good to pass up and will consequently be granted an exception. Containing some pretty excellent stripped down versions of some of Smith's more familiar tunes mixed in with a batch of equally brilliant unreleased material, New Moon epitomizes how tragic Smith's premature death truly was to the music world. After listening to few of this compilation's cuts, it's hard to believe that it took this long for these songs to reach the light of day. Just listen to "Whatever (Folk Song in C)," "New Monkey," and "All Cleaned Out," and you'll see why most of today's singer-songwriters could only wish their a-sides could even touch this man's "throwaway" work.


74) The White Stripes - Icky Thump (2007)
As crazy as this sounds, this is the White Stripes album that officially converted me over to the this band. Sure, I was well aware of the praise this duo had been getting for the better part of the decade, but nothing really did it for me until I really sat down and gave Icky Thump a few listens. Maybe it was the emptiness of having no bassist in the band. Or maybe it was the undeniable fact that Jack White has as much talent in his pinky that band mate Meg has in her whole body. Regardless, what they produce together on their most recent effort ain't half bad. Anyone who can bring back the blues as well as Jack does on "Rag & Bone" deserves a coveted spot on this list.


73) The Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike! (2004)
I can't think of an album title that is as appropriate as The Go! Team's debut. Put quite simply, Thunder, Lightning, Strike! is an upbeat celebration of sound that brings back nostalgic feelings of comic books, convulsion-worthy action cartoons, and everything else that was glorious about the '80's. This Brighton-based sextet hails from the same stomping grounds as Norman Cook (a.k.a Fatboy Slim) and successfully carries on the tradition that the legendary DJ started over a decade ago. If percussion is your thing, you'll definitely dig that this band comes with a pair of drummers.


72) The Hives - Veni, Vedi, Vicious (2002)
Remember when the "The" bands stormed the scene back in 2001-2002? New York gave us The Strokes, Detroit gave us The White Stripes, and Australia was kind enough to export over The Vines. Taking advantage of this trend, Alan McGee (the man behind Oasis), quickly signed The Hives and re-released Veni, Vedi, Vicious in 2002 (it was originally released in 2000). Combining bombastic late 60's garage rock (a la MC5) with classic 70's punk elements, these Swedes stormed the States with a slew of hits that included "Hate To Say I Told You So," "Main Offender," and "Die, All Right". Since then, the guys have released a couple of equally amazing records that have somehow slipped under our radar. Last year's The Black and White Album may very well be 2007's most underrated record.


71) Kanye West - Graduation (2007)
As recent events will indicate, people either hate to love this guy or love to hate him. I think I will side with the former, because he is one of the rare talents who's music can actually back up an absurd ego. For those of you in the dark, just read about his little Bonnaroo fiasco. But letting the music do the speaking, this is one hell of a hip-hop album. Granted Kanye gets help from a host of musicians on nearly every song here, you can tell he's a perfectionist who will not stop to give his legions of fans his very best. Although some critics thought he lost a step on this effort, this album is his most polished to date.